Trinamool Congress rebel leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed the dissident faction now enjoys the support of 22 Lok Sabha MPs
June 14, 2026: Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Sunday claimed that two more MPs had joined the dissident camp, taking its strength in the Lok Sabha to 22 members. Speaking before leaving for New Delhi, she said the rebel faction would meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to seek recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc. While refusing to reveal the identities of the new members, she said their names would be disclosed once they formally joined the group.
The rebel camp’s activities intensified in Delhi, where several dissident MPs, including Prasun Banerjee, Mala Roy, Satabdi Roy, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Saayoni Ghosh, met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was also present during the meeting. Reports suggest the rebel MPs may also meet Suvendu Adhikari later in the day.
The rebellion within the All India Trinamool Congress has deepened in recent days, with dissident MPs openly distancing themselves from party chief Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed around 20 MPs supported the rebel camp and indicated a willingness to back the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. A document carrying the signatures of 19 MPs recently surfaced, reportedly backing the move to form a separate parliamentary bloc under her leadership. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Speaker’s office regarding the request.